Birth Story

We got to the hospital around 8:20 pm and went to the L&D to register. I was in total denial. Mr. V kept taking pictures of me. I was not impressed. Wet hair, big belly, fat all around is not a good combo for pictures if you ask me.

 

After a pee test and some blood work, the doc checked me and I was at 1cm. I remember thinking to myself that I might just go to labor naturally without being induced. I was hoping it would be the case but it didn’t work out that way.

 

We waited until our room was prepped for us. We called our parents and checked in on Miss A. I changed and sat on the hospital bed as the nurse came in and told us the plan. My doc wanted to start the inducement process right away.

The plan was to help me to get dilated to 4cm overnight. They would insert a “balloon” and leave it there overnight to move things along. And so they did. That is when things got real! I snapped out of my dream state and realized we were having a baby the next day.

 

The balloon wasn’t painful but it was pretty uncomfortable. The nurses went in and out the whole night. I was able to get a few hours of sleep in between the check-ups. The nurses changed shifts, the hours went by, the pain increased, the IV went in, some pain medicine was giving, which didn’t really help.

By morning, I was at 3-4 cm. I remember thinking that it’ll be a very long day if my overnight progress was so little. My contractions were so strong I couldn’t tolerate them anymore. Every time a contraction started, I held on to the bed as tightly as I could and looked at the monitor by my side. I remember trying to distract myself from pain by looking around the room and concentration on something. I remember looking at my Kindle and seeing some random book name pop up. I remember looking at the clock thinking our little one would be born soon. I remember I gritted my teeth. I remember almost falling off the bed with each contraction. I remember Mr. V laying in the room and asking me how I was. I remember a nurse coming in and out. Apparently their system was down and she couldn’t see my monitor numbers from outside. She sat by my side for the next few hours talking to me about her life with two crazy toddlers. She sat by my side looking at the monitor – some numbers would get up and some down.

 

I asked for an epidural after about 2 hours of being in pain. I had to wait for an anesthesiologist for about 20-30 minutes. Those were the longest minutes ever. When the anesthesiologist (same guy as 4 years ago) came in, I knew exactly what to do and was ready for a magical drug. What a difference it makes. I finally got some rest and stayed on the right side of the bed.

 

The nurse continued to sit by side. She talked a lot and reminded me of my Italian friend. She had a great sense of humor. I was finally able to laugh at her jokes and concentrate on what she was saying. I know now that she was by my side because my little girl had the cord around her neck. Her heart rate would drop significantly with every contraction. I kind of guessed it by looking at the monitor but didn’t realize how important it was to have someone there in case something would happen. I am so grateful she was there! I am glad she took care of the whole situation without letting me know and stressing me out even more.

 

My doc finally made an appearance and I was close to 8cm. After another hour, I was ready to push. We made a few practice pushes and apparently I was a pro already. I didn’t feel anything but they called me a champ. That is the way I like it – No Pain!

 

The doctor came along with another nurse. Again, they didn’t tell me why but I guess they had to be ready just in case. I started pushing and at exactly 2:00pm my little baby was born. Mr. V confirmed she had a tight cord around her neck which the doctor cut right away. I, of course, saw nothing. I guess it is better that way. Baby Alina weighed 7lb 8oz and was 21 inch long (at the hospital, and then 19.5 inch at her first doc’s appointment, I guess someone messed up).

 

I got to hold the baby right away. What a feeling…it is definitely one of those awww moments. I looked at her and knew she is mine. I knew how to take care of her. I knew her cues. I stared at her for a long time and took in all of her features.

We tried BFing and it was OK. I wanted to give it a try and see where it would take us without having any expectations. She wrapped her tiny little fingers around one of mine and took my breath away.

 

Hospital stay to be continued…..